Saigon Newport Company, the port authority for the Port of Ho Chi Minh City, was created in 1989 by the National Minister of Defense of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. In 2006, the company was transformed into a holding company with several subsidiaries that include the Tan Cang Construction Company, Limited, Tan Cang – Song Than, Tan Cang – Cai Mep Container Joint Stock Company, Newport Logistics and Stevedoring Joint Stock Company, Tan Cang – Long Bin Joint Stock Company, Tan Cang Real Estate Joint Stock Company, and Tan Cang Technical Services Joint Stock Company. The Saigon Newport Holding Company strives to further the competitive position of the Port of Ho Chi Minh City, particularly since Vietnam became a member of the World Trade Organization.

Over its 18 years of operation, Saigon Newport Holding Company has developed terminals and operations in the Port of Ho Chi Minh City (or "Saigon Newport") that are a powerful part of Vietnam's seaport system. The container traffic through the Port of Ho Chi Minh City accounts for over 65% of Ho Chi Minh City's market share and more than 40% of that for the country. In 2004, the Port of Ho Chi Minh City and Saigon Newport Company were recognized by the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam as "Labor Hero of the Renovation Period." In 2007, the Port of Ho Chi Minh City was awarded the Golden Trade Cup and a certificate of merit as Outstanding Employer of 2006-2007.

In 2007, the Port of Ho Chi Minh City handled 1,849,746 TEUs of containerized cargo, a 25% increase over 2006 and a more than three-fold increase over 2000. In 2008, the Port of Ho Chi Minh City welcomed 2168 vessels, and cargo increased to over two million TEUs, including over 1.0 million TEUs of exports and almost 975.3 TEUs of imports.

Vietnam's most modern container facility, Tan Cang – Cat Lai port within the Port of Ho Chi Minh City, covers 800 thousand square meters and contains eight berths, including two barge quays, with a total length of 1189 meters. Tan Cang – Cat Lai contains 17 Panamax quayside gantry cranes to support the fast and efficient transfer of cargoes. In 2010, an additional eight berths totaling 1462 meters in length with 20 Panamax quayside cranes will be added to this Port of Ho Chi Minh City facility. The Port of Ho Chi Minh City Tan Cang – Cat Lai Terminal is 43 nautical miles from the pilot station at Vung Tau. Pilotage is required for vessels approaching the Terminal.

The Port of Ho Chi Minh City covers a total area of 263 hectares. The port's container yards cover 156 hectares, and the port's Container Freight Stations cover a total of 20 hectares. The Port of Ho Chi Minh City contains 14 berths and three anchorage points. The Port of Ho Chi Minh City offers six self-propelled barges with capacity for from 16 to 54 TEUs and seven tug boats. The Port of Ho Chi Minh City also contains one thousand reefer plugs for refrigerated containers.

The Port of Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Cang – Cat Lai Terminal is the biggest, most modern container facility in Vietnam. With convenient and immediate access to the country's highway network, vehicles can carry as much as 30 tons to important economic areas in the rural areas and nearby provinces.

Water depth at the Port of Ho Chi Minh City's Cat Lai Terminal is 12 meters, and the berths can handle six vessels with capacity for up to two thousand TEUs at one time. Tidal variation at the terminal is 2.8 meters. Each month, this Port of Ho Chi Minh City terminal handles over 170 vessels from around the world and has an average throughput of 160 thousand TEUs.

The Tan Cang – Cat Lai Terminal in the Port of Ho Chi Minh City is the first facility in Vietnam to establish a Free Port Zone. The Free Port Zone offers a variety of services that include handling of goods; maritime and trading assistance; packaging, repackaging, stowing, and re-stowing of goods; and repair, replacement, and maintenance of containers.

The Port of Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Cang – Cai Mep container facility was scheduled to begin operations in late 2008. As the first deep-sea facility in Vietnam with capacity to handle vessels up to 80 thousand DWT (or six thousand TEUs), the Cai Mep facility features state-of-the-art logistics and ICD systems that facilitate coordination with several big industrial parks in the Port of Ho Chi Minh City area, giving customers convenient one-stop service.

The Tan Cang – Cai Mep Terminal in the Port of Ho Chi Minh City is an international deep-water facility located 33 kilometers from the Vung Tau pilot station. The terminal berths can accommodate vessels with maximum draft of 12.2 meters. This Port of Ho Chi Minh City Terminal can handle vessels up to 80 thousand tons (or six thousand TEUs). The terminal has capacity to handle 600 thousand TEUs per year. The berth at the Cai Mep terminal is 300 meters long and is equipped with three post-Panamax gantry cranes.

Work to improve the Tan Cang – Cai Mep facility in the Port of Ho Chi Minh City began in 2007 with the construction of 20 hectares of container yards and 300 meters of berths. Phase II of the improvement project, which should be completed by 2010, will add 590 meters of berths and 40 hectares of container yards. The Phase II work is being accomplished through a joint venture between the Port of Ho Chi Minh City and three major shipping lines.

The Port of Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Cang – Song Than ICD is an inland customs clearance station that supports the Tan Cang terminals. Located in Song Than Industrial Zone No. 2, it is in the heart of industrial zones. Covering an area of 500 thousand square meters, it contains a container yard of 300 thousand square meters and warehouse space of 135.9 thousand square meters. The Port of Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Cang – Song Than ICD provides container handling and storage services, warehousing services, and container trunking.

The Tan Cang – Nhon Trach Depot at the Port of Ho Chi Minh City is also located in Dong Nai province about 8 kilometers from the Cat Lai facility. The Depot covers 8.1 thousand square meters, including a 6.3 thousand square meter container yard, and it includes a 70 meter long berth.

The Port of Ho Chi Minh City has several development projects underway. An area of over 10 hectares within the city center will be developed for an International Maritime and Commercial Center, International Trade Exhibition and Fair, and office building as well as offices for lease, hotels, and apartments.

The Port of Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Cang – Long Binh ICD in Dong Nai Province covers 280 hectares. Phase I of the project is underway and will include 80 hectares with a logistics and distribution center, container yards, and warehouse services. Phase II will add 150 hectares to the facility, including additional warehouses and infrastructure as well as deployment of the real estate project. The Tan Cang – Long Binh ICD is 35 kilometers from the Tan Cang – Cat Lai facility and 45 kilometers from the Tan Cang – Cai Mep facility.

For more information about the history of and cruising and travel opportunities in the Port of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), please refer to the World Port Source article on Saigon Port.